Welcome 2009 With Open Arms

So New Year's Eve went off without a hitch, you've made your list of resolutions and now you find yourself wondering "What next?". With all of the holidays lined up one after another since November, sometimes the momentum seems to come to a screeching halt come January. But don't let the lack of holiday hussle be your excuse to fall back into a stagnant rut. Welcome the new year with open arms and an open mind!



If your feeling the Closet Blues after the holidays, just a few changes can have a big impact on your mood and give you that fresh start that every new year seems to call for. For instance, don't wait for Spring to start cleaning out your closet. Take a good hard look at your current situation and ask yourself when you are really going to wear that sweater that you got such a great deal on way back in '04. If you haven't worn it in a year (and that's being generous), it's probably time to give it the ol' heave-ho! And don't fool yourself with ideas like "It'll come back into style one day" or "It's been so good to me." The only reason you should be keeping items in your closet is if they make you feel your best when you put them on. And don't assume that only means your Sunday's best. A quality t-shirt can be just as effective in making you feel fabulous as your favorite Catherine Malandrino dress; it's all about how you wear it. So when sifting through your wardrobe's past, save only those articles of clothing that you feel best embody you at this point in time. Try them on if you have to, but don't be afraid to be discerning. A new year and a fresh start requires it.



If you tend to fall into the same old routine or "comfort zone", an early cleaning is the perfect step in the right direction. When you see your old style or the same ill-fitting clothes hanging in your closet everyday, you tend to slip right back into the habit of buying those very things over and over again. Clear the clothes out of your closet and you'll clear that tired look out of your head. Now you can start looking for pieces that best reflect how you really want to feel. And the weight loss for your closet can actually be a weight gain for your wallet. Take unwanted items in good condition to your neighborhood consignment store. The rest can be donated, garnering a point on your good deeds list for 2009 and a tax right off.



Some old adages may have passed their prime, but there are those that still ring true today. Take the saying "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." What a novel concept! Just because you may not have your dream job yet, doesn't mean you have to lower your standards of how you dress or, more importantly, how you feel. Putting a little pizazz in your wardrobe can be a great cure for a case of the Mondays. It can also give your psyche that extra push it needs to get out there and find your dream job. Dressing for the job you want gives you a confindent boost that just might be what you need to ace that interview.



Need key pieces to put your new 2009 wardrobe on track? Check these out:



*A great wardrobe starts wtih great basics.

1. Casual tees

2. Classic button up

3. Day-to-Night denim

4. Plush sweater

5. Functional heels



*Take your life and career to the next level in these fashion must-haves.

1. Feel-good dress

2. Verstile jacket/coat

3. Sexy skirt

4. Sophisitcated trousers

5. High-fashion shoes